Terminal link for bracelets.



S. BRUNER.

TERMINAL LINK FYOR BRACELETS.

APPLICATION man JULY 23. 19!].

1245,67 1 Patented Nov. 6, 1917.

SIMON BBUNER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

TERMINAL LINK FOR BRACELETS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented N 6, 1917.

Application filed July 23, 1917. Serial No. 182,198.

haveinvented a certain new and useful 'lerminal Link for Bracelets, of which the following is a specification.

This invention 18 a terminal link for bracelets and, more partlcularly, wristwatch bracelets which are expansible to allow of their being slipped over the hand to remove or replace the same upon the wrist of the wearer without necessitating their release from the wrist-watch. Bracelets of this general character have long been employed, and the-terminal links thereof have been so constructed as to be snapped into engagement with eyelets at the opposite sides of a wrist-watch, but, as heretofore constructed, said terminal links were so constituted that they were difficult to assemble during the process of manufacture, and certain parts thereof were apt to become dislodged through use, with the result that they either were rendered inoperative or became unsightly.

In making expansible bracelets of the character described, the bracelet is composed of a plurality of links flexibly secured together so that the bracelet may expand or contract, as required, and this is true of all of the links save those at the ends of the bracelet, which, experience has shown, it is desirable to form in a compara' tively rigid manner so that they may be attached to, or removed from, the watch with ease and without fear of breakage. Each terminal link is generally provided with a snap or clasp member wliich engages with an eyelet on the watch, and, while this clasp member is resilient, it is mounted upon the terminal link in a rigid manner so, that, when said terminal link is manipulated, the resilient member is simultaneously moved.

Various constructions have been resorted to for maintaining the resilient clasp member rigid with the terminal link, and, since the constructions proposed haveproved expensive to manufacture and assemble, and otherwise generally unsatisfactory, the objectof the present invention is to improve upon the prior constructions by so forming the clasp member that it is maintained rigidly in engagement with the terminal link without the employment of extraneous means, as has heretofore been the case, but entirely through a peculiar shaping of the clasp member, whereby the link may be more economicallymanufactured and more readily assembled.

Features of the invention, other than those specified, as Well as the advantages thereof, will be apparent from the hereinafter detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

In the accompanying drawing 1 have illustrated one practical embodiment of the invention, but the construction therein shown is to be understood as illustrative, only, and not as defining the limits of the invention.

Figure l is a side elevation of a wristwatch with which are associated the opposite ends of a bracelet embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one end of the bracelet, showing the two links adjacent said end.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the terminal link shown in Fig. 2, with one side shell removed. to show the interior construction of the link.

Fig. 4 is a section on line H of Fig. '3.

Fig. 5 is a section on line 5-5 of sa'id figure, and

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a spring-tongued hook employed.

Referring to the drawing, A designates a wrist-watch provided at its oppositesides with eyes a, which are adapted to be engaged by the terminal links B of the bracelet. Theterminal links B 'are'at the opposite ends of the bracelet, the remainder of which is formed from a plurality of links C, all of which are alike and are arranged consecutively to connectthe terminal links B. Links C may be of any well known form, but are preferably of that-character which is expansible, a spring being housed within the link to normally maintain the adjacent links in end-abutting relation. Since the present invention relates only to the terminal link B, consideration will be given this link, only, it being understood that'the same may be usedin conjunction with various forms of'links C without departing from the spirit of the invention; 7

Link?) embodies two shell portions b, as

usual, andthese shell portions are of @1011;

gated, dished form, as clearly shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5; They are adapted tube,

brought into complementary, spaced, facing relation and secured together at their opposite ends by wiping flanges Z), formed at the opposite ends of one shell Z), over pin 72 formed at the corresponding ends of the other shell, as shown in Fig. 4.

Clasp member D is made from a strip of spring metal and shaped in the form of a snap hook provided with a resilient tongue (Z cooperating with a relatively rigid, hookshaped portion d, which latter portion is adapted to engage with the eyes a on the watch. Clasp D is jammed between the shells 7) when the same are assembled as described, so that the back reach (Z of the clasp is pressed tightly between the cooperating ed es of the two shells, as shown best in Figs. 2 and 3, while the inner face of said reach engages with the flanges Z) which are wrapped about the pin at the forward end of the link. The rear end of clasp D is precluded. from moving radially of the bracelet by means of the cars E, which are swaged from the base of the clasp and eX tend in lateral directions into the dished portions of the shells I), as shown best in Fig. 5, while additional, laterally projecting ears F are formed by swaging the back reach (Z just rear *ardly of the forward pin 6 as shown. in Figs. 3 and 6. The ears 1 also project into the dished portions of the shells Z) and serve to force the back reach (Z of the clasp tightly against the forward pin 6 so that relative movement between said back reach and the shells is precluded. Moreover, movement of the clasp longitudinally forward of. the shells is precluded by the ears F, while retrograde movement of'said clasp is impossible because of the. fact that the sliding bar 0 of the adjacent link C embraces the rear pin 6 as usual,.and par-takes of a position just rearwardly of the ears E, so that, should the clasp have a tendency toslide back, it will engage with the bar 0 and. this movement will be precluded.

By the construction, described, the major portion. of the clasp is maintained rigid wit-h.

respect to the shells b,.but the sprin tongue (Z is left free to spring back and forth, as

desired, in attaching or emoving; the bracelet from. the watch.

Terminal links of the general character described have been heretofore employed, but, in lieu of the ears F, a band or sleeve has been wound about the backv reach at this point, and said. bandor sleeve has-been seatechin a depression to preclude its longitudinal. movement. The drawings show the inventionon a very large scale, and. in practice the device is very much smaller, the

links normally being but about one-halfv inch inlength over all. The rings or bands thus employed have, accordingly, been of the most minute dimensions andha ebeen difficult. to placein position andhold in proper accident, or worn out from long continueduse.. Thus, by the simplicity of the structure and its ease in assembling, the device of this invention is moreeconomicalto man ufacture than prior art devices and ismore strong and durable in use.

Having thusfully described the invention,

What I claim as new, and desire to secure.

by Letters Patent, is;

1. A terminal link for bracelets embodying a pair of juxtaposed, dished shells,.the open sides of which. face one. another, a spi-cingetongued' hook positioned between said shells, and means for. securing. the shells to gether and jamming the hook rigidly between them, said' hook being provided at its base with. laterally projecting. ears extending into the interior of the shells, and. also having additional ears swaged from the material of the hook and also extending into the interior of the shells, all of said ears cooperating to maintain the hook rigid with the shells, while allowing of unrestricted movement of the spring tongue of said hook.

2. A terminal hook embodying a. pair of juxtaposed, dished shells, and a. springtongued. hook clamped between said shells, said hook being provided with ears swaged from the material of the hook and extending laterally into the dished portions of the shells for precluding relative movement between the hook and shells, while allowing of the unrestricted operation of the spring tongue of said hook.

8. A terminal. hook embodying a pair of juxtaposed, dished shells, a spring-tongued hook positionedbe'tween said. shells and provided with ears swaged from the material of the hook and. extending into the dished portions of. the shells, and means'for securingv the shells, together, with the hook clamped. between. them, a portion of the hook. being jammed betweenv the securing means and. the interior walls of the shells,

whereby mo ement of the hook relative to the shells isprecluded, while allowing of the unrestricted.operation of the spring.

terial of the hook and extending laterally into depressions in the inner faces of the side bars, for precluding movement between the hook and side bars, while allowing of the unrestricted operation of the spring tongue of the hook.

5. A terminal link embodying two side elements secured together in spaced relation and provided with depressions, and a spring- 10 tongued hook clamped between said side elements, said spring-tongued hook being provided with a plurality of ears, all of which are swaged from the material of the hook, and which ears project into the depressions in the side elements for the purpose of precluding the disengagement of the springtongued hook from said side elements.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

SIMON BRUNER.

copies of this patent may be obtained for live cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

